Shoe and shank stiffener therefor



Jung 30, 1931. BROGAN 1,811,911

SHOE AND SHANK STIFFENER THEREFOR Filed March 14, 1929 to McKay-sewed shoes Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES P AT E NT o1=1=1cE ,MICHAEL F. BROGAN, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF JERSEY IPATEIKSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW SHOE AND SHANK STIIb FENER THEREFOR Application filed March 14, 1929. Serial No. 347,103.

This invention relates to improvements in shoes and shank stilfeners therefor. The in vention is herein illustrated in its application although itis useful also in connection with other types of shoes.

In the manufacture of McKay-sewed shoes it is customary to attach a shank stiffener to the outer side of the insole after the upper materials have been lasted over the insole and secured thereto by lasting tacks. In some instances the stiil'eners consist merely of longitudinally arched strips which have no cross-sectional curvature, while in other instances the stifi'eners are arched or benttransversely, thereby producing a so-called -ribbed formation and affording amore rigid construction. Usually, however, the transverse convexity or rib has been formed at the longitudinally concave or outsole-engaging side of the stiffener. In applying a ribbed or transversely arched stiffener of the type which has been most generally used heretofore in McKay-sewed shoes, the stiffconcave side facing the ener is laid with its unribbed or transversely insole and, in a shoe having a narrow shank portion, the stiffener usually overlaps one or both of the last-over upper margins, thus holding the outsole farther away from the last at the middle of the shank than at other portions of the shoe and preventing the sole from conforming aecurately to the longitudinal curvature of the, lastbottom. It the stiffener has been applied so that it overlaps the lastover upper mar gin at one side only of the shoe it is liable to be tilted transversely by the leveling pressure subsequently applied to the outsole with the result that the outsole cannot be properly leveled at the shank and a defective shoe is produced.

In view of the foregoing, one object of the present. invention is to provide an improved shank stiffener which, while strengthened by transverse arching or bending, will nevertheless he so constnu'ted that it will fit entirely within the space between the lastedover upper margins of a narrow shank shoe and whieh will be capable of readily adjust ing itself into a transversely level position wherein it will be adapted properly to sup port and back up the outsole against the presoperation, while permitting the outsole to lie close to the insole at the shank so as to conform accurately to the longitudinal curvature of the last bottom.

To the accomplishment of this object, and in accordance with one feature of the invention, the illustrated shank stiffener consists of a single narrow strip formed and adapted to reinforce the shank portion only of a shoe, said strip being longitudinally arched and of substantially uniform width throughout the greater portion of its length, the longitudinally arched portion of the strip being transversely convex from one lateral edge of the strip to the other at the longitudinally convex side of the strip and transversely concave from one lateral edge of the strip to the other at the longitudinally-concave side of the strip, and said transversely convex side of the strip being curved at the transversely medial portion thereof on a radius substantially shorter than the height of the stiffener at that point. The lateral margins of the illustrated stiffener are rolled inwardly to provide better bearing surfaces for engagement with the outsole. The inwardly rolled lateral margins of the stiffener are also adapted to function as gaging means in guiding the shoe while the shoe is being operated upon as will hereinafter be described.

Regarded in another aspect the invention resides in a shoe comprising an insole of normal cross-sectional contour in its shank portion, an outsole, upper materials having lasted-over margins interposed between the soles and separated along the shank by a relatively narrow space, and a shank stiffener located between the soles and substantially fillin g the space between the lasted-over margins of the upper materials for a substantial portion of the length of the shank of the shoe and bearing against both soles substantially throughout the length of the shank portion of the shoe. As herein illustrated, the side of the stiffener which engages the insole of the shoe is formed with a convex cross-sectional contour.

The invention further consists in features Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a McKayshoe as it appears before the outsole has been laid, illustrating the application to the shoe of a shank stifiener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of.

a portion of a McKay shoe embodying features of the invention, the plane of the section extending through the middle of the shank stiffener;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved shank stiffener shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a completed McKay shoe embodying features of the present invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of shank stiffeners showing modifications of the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View of the shoe shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which the shank stiffener functions during the performance of the roughing operation upon the lasted-over margins of the upper preparatory to the application of the outsole.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a partially completed McKay-sewed shoe comprising upper materials A, an insole B, and a shank stiffener C. The upper materils A and the insole B are assembled upon a last D, the bottom margins of the upper materials being wiped over the insole and secured thereto by lasting tacks E in the usual manner. Because of the narrowness of the shank portion of the last D the margins of the upper materials at opposite sides of the shoe lie close to each other along the shank so that an exceptionally narrow space X is left between them. The shank stiffener C is located within this narrow space X and is se cured t0 the insole by means of tacks G at the ends of the stiffener.

The illustrated shank stiffener C is formed from a strip of metal and is longitudinally curved to correspond with the longitudinal curvature at the bottom of the last I). The opposite end portions 10 and 12 of the shank stiffener C are formed without any transverse curvature, these portions being substantially fiat so as to have full surface engagement with the insole. Holes 14 in the flat end portions 10 and 12 are provided to receive the fastening tacks G. Between the end portions 10 and 12 the stiffener C is strengthened by being transversely curved to a substantial extent, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In order to enable the shank stiffener C to fit within the narrow space X between the lasted-over margins of the upper materials, without overlapping either margin of the upper, and to adjust itself readily into a transversely level position, the stiffener is made transversely convex at the side which is longitudinally convex and which faces the out- ,sole and the stiffener is made correspondingly transversely concave at its opposite side,

i. 'e., at the longitudinally concave side of the stiffener which faces the insole of the shoe. As shown in Fig.1 the transverse curvature of the portion of the stiffener between the ends 10 and 12 extends from one lateral edge of the stiffener to the other and the lateral portions of'the stiffener are curved more abruptly than the' rest of the stiffener so to offset them a substantial amount height- Wise ofthe shoe without unduly increasing the width of the stiffener, and so as further to facilitate the desired self-adjustment of the stiffener into a transversely level position in the shoe. As shown, the margins 16, 16 are rolled inwardly to provide for a better bearing against the outsole. By shaping the stiffener as just described it is not only further strengthened but it is also made of' such cross-sectional shape as to fill the space between the outsole and insole at theshank of the shoe, this space beingequal to thethickness of the upper materials A which, as shown in Fig. 4, comprise an upper I, a counted stiffener J and a lining K. As shown in Fig. 4, the margins 16, 16 of the stiffener are substantially flush with the lasted-over margins of the upper and thus are adapted to support the outsole without holding it away from the upper.

On account of the transverse convexity of the stiffener at the side which is to face the insole the stiffener may be easily introduced into the narrow space X between the upper materials, there being no tendency for the lateral edges of the stiffener to be caught by the edges of the upper materials and. after the stiffener seats against the insole, it will readily adjust itself, if necessary, into a transversely level position within the recess X. Inasmuch as the stiffener fills the recess X heightwise of the shoe it will afford a support or backing for the outsole against the pressure during the sole leveling operation and it will positively determine the longitudinal curvature of the shank portion of the outsole, making it correspond to the longitudinal curvature of the insole and of the last bottom.

Fig. 5 shows a shank stiffener having a modified cross-sectional curvature wherein the lateral margins of the stiffener are rolled outwardly instead of inwardly. This form of stiffener is particularly adapted for use where the recess between the upper materials support or backing for the outsole. Inasmuch as the ribbed portion 18 is seated against the insole there will be no danger of the stiffener becoming displaced.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a further modification wherein the lateral margins of the stiffener are not rolled, either outwardly or inwardly, but are flat throughout a substantial portion of the width of the stiffener as indicated at 22. In the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it will be noted that the transversely convex side of the strip is curved at the transversely medial portion thereof on a radius substantially shorter than the height of the stiffener at that point, so as to facilitate ready adjustment of the stiffener into a transversely level position in a shoe.

The illustrated shank stiffeners are adapted to be applied to a shoe while the shoe is on the last just before the outsole is laid. The transversely rounded portion of the shank is inserted in a narrow recess between the margins of the upper materials and the tacks G are driven into the insole, the tacks clinching against a metal plate on the last bottom. The shank stiffener fills the recess X both widthwise and depthwise, the lateral margins of the stiffener being substantially flush with the surface of the lasted-over margin so as not to interfere with the desired close contact between the latter and the outsole.

It is desirable to roughen the margins of the shoe upper to prepare them to receive the outsole, this roughing operation being illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein L, L are two abrasive wheels acting simultaneously upon the margins of a shoe upper A at opposite sides of the shank of the shoe. The shank stiffener C may rzdvantageously be utilized during this roughing operation, in conjunction with a guide finger M associated with the wheels L, to guide the shoe relatively to the wheels so as to prevent the latter from acting on the portion of the upper which is to be exposed in the finished shoe. As shown, the guide finger M enters the trough of the shank between the inwardly rolled margins 16, 16 and co-operates with the opposite inturned lateral edges thereof to guide the shoe while the shoe is being operated upon.

After the upper margins have been roughened, the outsole is laid in the usual manner. Inasmuch as the shank stiffener is contained entirely within the recess X it will not hold the outsole away from the upper materials but since the edge portions 16, 16 of the stiffener are substantially flush with the outer surface of the upper margin the outsole will be positively Supported along lines corresponding to the lines of the longitudinal arch of the last bottom.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shank stiffener consisting of a narrow strip having a longitudinally arched portion of uniform width and having inturned edges, said portion having a semi-elliptical crosssectional curvature which is transversely convex upon the longitudinally convex side of said portion from one lateral edge of the strip to the other.

2. A shank stiffener consisting of a narrow strip having a longitudinally arched portion of uniform width and having inturned edges, said portion having a semi-elliptical cross- Sectional curvature which is transversely convex from one lateral edge to the other at the longitudinally convex side of said portion of the strip and correspondingly transversely concave from one lateral edge to the other at the longitudinally concave side of said portion of the strip.

3. A shank stiffener consisting of a longitudinally arched strip transversely convex throughout the greater portion of its length at the longitudinally convex side of the strip and transversely concave throughout a corresponding portion of its length at the longitudinally concave side of the strip, the opposite lateral margins of the stiffener being rolled inwardly.

4. A shank stiffener consisting of an elongated strip substantially flat at its opposite ends and longitudinally arched between its ends, the longitudinally arched portion of the stiffener being transversely convex at the longitudinally convex side ofv the arch and transversely concave at the longitudinally concave side of the arch and having its opposite lateral margins rolled inwardly.

5. A shoe comprising, in combination, an insole of normal cross-sectional contour in its shank portion, an outsole, upper materials having lasted-over margins interposed between the soles and separated along the shank by a relatively narrow space, and a shank stiffener located between the soles and substantially filling the space between the lastedover margins of the upper materials for a substantial portion of the length of the shank of the shoe and bearing against both soles substantially throughout the length of the shank portion of the shoe.

6. A McKay-sewed shoe comprising, in combination, an insole, an outsole, upper materials having lasted-over margins interposed between the soles, and a shank stiffener located between the soles and within the space between the lasted-over margins of the upper materials and consisting of an elongated strip arched both lengthwise and crosswise and arranged with the middle portion of the crosswise arch bearing against the insole and the opposite end portions of the crosswise arch bearing against the outsole.

7. A shoe comprising, in combination, an insole of normal cross-sectional contour in its shank portion, an outsole, upper materials having lasted-over margins interposed between the soles and secured thereto by through-and-through fastenings, and a shank stiffener located between the soles and sub- 5 stantially fitting the space between the lastedover margins of the upper materials for a substantial portion of the length of the shank portion of the shoe, the shank stiffener engaging both soles throughout the greater portion of its length, the insole engaging portion of the stiffener being transversely convex and the outsole-engaging side of the stiffener being transversely concave.

8. In a shoe of the type in which the upper materials are lasted over the insole and the outsole is directly secured to the lasted over margins of the upper, a shank stiffener of semi-elliptical cross-sectional contour arranged substantially to fill the space between said lasted over margins for a substantial portion of the length of the stiffener, the stiffener engaging both soles throughout the greater portion of its length, the insole engaging portion of the stifiener being transversely convex and the opposite side of the stiffener being correspondingly transversely concave.

9. A shank stiffener consisting of a single narrow strip formed and adapted to reinforce the shank portion only of a shoe, said strip being longitudinally arched and of substantially uniform width throughout the greater portion of its length, the longitudinally arched portion of the strip being trans versely convex from one lateraledge of the strip to the other at the longitudinally convex side of the strip and transversely concave from one lateral edge of the strip to the other at the longitudinally concave side ofthe strip and said transversely convex side of the strip being curved at the transversely medial portion thereof on a radius substantially shorter than the height of the stifiener at that point, whereby ready adjustment of the stiffener into a transversely level position in a shoe is permitted.

10. A shoe comprising, in combination, an 'insole of normal cross-sectional contour in its shank portion, an outsole, upper materials having lasted-over margins interposed between the soles and separated along the shank by a relatively narrow space, and a shank stifi'ener located between the soles and substantially filling the space between the lastedover margins of the upper materials for a substantial portion of the length of the shank of the shoe and engaging both the insole. and the outsole substantially throughout the length of the shank portion of the shoe, the shank stifi'ener having a convex cross-sectional contour at its insole-engaging side.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MICHAEL l BROGAN. 

